Davis’ execution had been held up three times since 2007, and his case went through a long and complicated appeals process, but during the appeals process he was expected to prove his innocence, rather than merely cast reasonable doubt. Legal experts have argued that the major obstacle to granting Davis a new trial, and thus returning the standard of proof back to reasonable doubt, was the “Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act” which, among other things, bars death row inmates from later presenting evidence that could exonerate them after trial.